Revenge on bailiffs supposedly behind Makhachkala terror attack

MOSCOW, May 23 (Itar-Tass) - The terrorist attack in Makhachkala could be committed in response to the tough position of the Dagestani service of bailiffs in the enforcement of court rulings and counteraction against curruption, the Federal Service of Bailiffs believes.

Senior officials of the federal service do not rule out that the explosions set off by terrorists on May 20, 2013 near the building of the federal service's department in the Republic of Dagestan could be linked with the active offensive position of the department in the enforcement of court rulings and the counteraction against corruption crimes, a source at the federal service said, noting that revenge and intention to intimidate bailiffs could be a motive of the crime.

In recent time, the department took tough unpopular measures to enforce court rulings.

In 2012 and the first quarter of this year, the department demolished about 180 illegally built constructions, including a market in Khasavyurt, ten cottages in the coast zone of the settlement of Shysheya and a number of large constructions in Makhachkala.

In many cases, the demolition was accompanied not only by discontent, but also active actions of owners of the illegal constructions. Often threats were heard from them, and there were even attempts to use firearms, the service noted.

The department's senior officials take a rigid position of principle in the counteraction against corruption. Last year and in the first quarter of this year, officers of the department submitted 20 reports about attempts to persuade them to commit a corruption crime. Nineteen persons who offered bribes to bailiffs were indicted.

Shortly after the terrorist attack, department officers together with law-enforcement authorities detained one more briber who had offered 2,500 roubles to a bailiff to stop the enforcement of the court ruling.

Such practice for the time being is an exception in the north Caucasian region's executive power structures, a service source noted.